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Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
Abel had never seen Lute this nervous. Not even in the Hall of Speaker where he first announced that he, and not Lute, was the new Exorcist Commander. No, back then she was furious – upset and furious. And now, under Sera's multi-eyed glare, she was squirming, averting her eyes, and fidgeting with that bracelet she wore on her left wrist, stretching it and releasing, making it snap against the metal.
Abel wished he had a bracelet like this too.
Emily's presence didn't help.
Sera tapped her fingers against her arm, glaring at the two of them. Her eyes narrowed. Abel suddenly felt very, very small. He almost wished to go to Hell again. Almost.
Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
...Abel had no doubts that Lute would rather be in Hell than right here, too, even if for vastly different reasons. Getting away from Sera's scrutiny would be just a bonus for her.
Sera's main eyes moved from Abel to Lute and to Abel again, as if she was wondering which of them to rip into first. Abel swallowed hard, the anticipation feeling worse moment by moment. Lute wasn't even looking at Sera, staring at her bracelet instead. Had the bracelet been on her flesh wrist, it would surely bruise the flesh by all this snapping. Sera's eye twitched.
'You two' she said finally. 'Why did you NOT do the ONE thing you were sent to Hell for?'
Abel curled up into himself even more if it was possible. Lute briefly dug her metal fingers into her flesh forearm, nearly drawing blood, but forced herself to take a deep breath and grab the bracelet again.
Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
Stretch.
Snap!
'Seeing the traitor, I lost control' Lute hissed through clenched teeth. All of Sera's eyes focused on her.
Abel perhaps shouldn't feel this relieved that he wasn't watched at least for a while. It was too selfish for an angel.
'The traitor in here is YOU!' Sera slammed a fist on the table. Abel flinched, but Lute didn't react to the sound. Was she this used to yelling and slamming?
Was it something she got used to as his father's lieutenant?
'You were supposed to get Emily back, not to chase your personal revenge! And you!' Sera looked at Abel again. 'You were supposed to do that too! Glad you found some semblance of leadership, still that wasn't the purpose of you two going down there! I should take your halos for this!'
'Sera, don't!' Emily cried, laying her hand on Sera's arm. Abel glanced over at the younger Seraph.
'There must be consequences' Sera said coldly. Emily's wings – the charred one included – twitched.
'Sera, please! It all worked out! If they dragged me back to Heaven, half of Hell would be wiped out! All those souls that can be redeemed!' Emily pleaded. Lute stared at her, briefly stopping fidgeting with her bracelet.
'R-really...?' She choked out. Emily raised an eyebrow.
'Didn't you hear when Vaggie told you that?' she asked pointedly. Lute paled.
'It wasn't like... I didn't think she... I thought she exaggerated...'
And Lute buried her fingers in her hair, letting out an inhuman, frustrated wail. She pulled at her hair, and Abel felt relieved that something seemed to get through to her.
He only hoped she wouldn't start destroying everything around herself again.
'Please, Sera' Emily pleaded still, holding on to Sera's hand. Sera closed most of her eyes and sighed.
'Fine' she said eventually. 'You two. Suspended. One more infraction...' She glared at Lute in particular. '...and your halos are gone. Dismissed.'
Abel stood up and walked off – hoping that his brisk pace wouldn't be taken as him running off. Lute marched stiffly. Only the barely perceptible lowering of her shoulder could be taken as a sign of her relaxing. Whatever she was next up to... he hoped wouldn't get her – and him – cast out of Heaven.